Page 81 of If You Claim Me

Thankfully, Flip is too busy trying to decode the scavenger hunt list to catch this.

Lexi leans in and whispers, “A crisper full of what?”

I pat her shoulder. “Stay in the dark, my friend. It’s safer there.”

We file inside the store. Isabelle and Portia, who I expect to be totally out of their element, shriek excitedly and head for the vibrator wall. They’re like kids in a candy store.

Flip finally looks up from his phone. “Whoa. I’m just going to sit right here.” He points to the chairs outside the change rooms.

“Head down, my friend.”

“Yeah, seems like the safest option.”

Lexi links her arm with mine. “You having fun?”

“I really am. Thank you for doing this.” I never thought I’d get married, let alone have a group of amazing friends willing to go to all this trouble to throw me a bachelorette party.

Tally and Fee have stopped in front of a wall of pleasure devices. Tally’s head is tipped to the side, lips pushed out. “What is that?”

“Ask Lexi. She has one,” Fee says loudly.

I snort a laugh.

Lexi shakes her head. “Fuck my life.”

“Lexi!” Tally grabs the device, which is attached to the wall with one of those cords so people can look at it, but not pocket it. I don’t know why anyone would want a sex toy that’s been handled by hundreds of people, but apparently some people prioritize pleasure over being sanitary.

“I got this.” I pat Lexi’s arm. “It simulates oral sex. You put it on your clit, and it does all the work. That way you don’t have to rub it like you’re trying to make a genie appear.”

Tally nods. “Oh, that’s handy.”

“Very,” Lexi agrees. “Although mine doesn’t get much use these days.”

“I’m going to wait outside.” The door tinkles as Flip disappears through it.

Tally smirks.

Lexi and I exchange a look.

We spend more time than is reasonable in the store, andPortia and Isabelle come out with bags full of goodies. Flip frowns when he notices Tally also has a bag, but if he has thoughts, he keeps them to himself. She’s a full-fledged adult. She’s in her third year of university and has been living in an apartment on her own since her first year.

From there, a passage from one of my favorite romance books, takes us to a cupcake shop. We indulge in dessert and drinks, filling in our scavenger-hunt cards, and then a quote from Shakespeare leads us to a bookstore that serves spiked coffees and teas. Finally, with a flourish, Lexi hands me the last envelope, and we make it to the final stop, a local pub for trivia night.

And because we haven’t imbibed enough, of course trivia turns into a drinking game. Every time I get a question right, I have to drink. This would be fine if I didn’t know the answer to almost all the questions and feel compelled to give the correct one. But things being what they are, I keep draining glasses.

After a while Lexi accompanies me to the bathroom, because I’m no longer steady on my feet. I’m a lightweight, and three margaritas—plus whatever else I had earlier that I can no longer remember clearly—are kicking my ass. “This has been so fun.” I try to move my bachelorette sash out of the way, but it’s impossible. I hang it over the door. “Are you having fun even though you can’t drink?”

“I’m having a great time,” she assures me. “Connor’s sisters are really gelling with the Babes.”

“Right? I’m happy about that. Sometimes we just need to step outside our comfort zone.” I do my business and straighten my dress, then retrieve my sash. I can’t figure out how to get it back on. “I think I might be a little drunk.” I open the door and stumble out.

Lexi catches my arm. “You’re usually a one margarita girl.”

“Yeah. Three is a lot for me.” Reality is starting to hit, but it’s softened by the booze. “I can’t believe I’m getting married in a little more than a week.”

She pushes my hair over my shoulders. “You don’t have to go through with it if you don’t want to. Everyone will understand.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want an out. And that’s not just the margaritas talking,” I whisper. “I think…I like him? We’re so similar. We both have damage from people who were supposed to love us.” My words are stumbling over each other. Sometimes I feel like I’m made of Swiss cheese. I take her hands. “I don’t know if I’ll ever really find the kind of love you have, Lexi. This might be my only chance, and selfishly, I want it. I want the fairy tale, even if it isn’t real, even if it comes with a wicked mother-in-law, and even if it means I marry the hockey world’s misunderstood villain.”